Go East, Park Proponents Tell Davie

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Most In Town Are Located On West Side

October 31, 2001|By Victor Greto Staff Writer

DAVIE — They're trying to fill a gap in a part of town that barely has a gap left.

Norman Blanco, president of the Villas of Arista Park, and co-chairman of the Associations of Nova Drive -- which represents more than 750 families just east of University Drive near the college complex -- is pushing for a low-maintenance park near Nova Drive and Southwest 71st Terrace.

Davie, known for its profusion of parks, open land and horse trails, has been remiss taking care of its east side, Blanco said.

"We have some of the best parks in the county," Blanco said, "but they're all west of University. [District 1 Council member] Geri Clark has Potter Park in her area. We have nothing in the Nova Drive corridor."

Tom Truex, their District 2 council representative, agrees.

"It would be very much needed up there because the residents don't have any park that they can get to conveniently," he said

But there are hurdles to overcome, he said.

Poinciana Properties owns a 10-acre lot at Southwest 71st Terrace and Nova Drive. Only 3.8 of those acres will be available for the park.

The 6.2 other acres are being developed into 94 condominiums, which will be ready toward the end of next year.

The entire lot is zoned M-1 Light Industry, which, Truex said, makes the land more expensive, and the "council is always cautious about taking land zoned that way off the tax rolls."

According to a letter dated Oct. 25, Jorge Bouza, development manager for Poinciana, told Town Administrator Tom Willi that Poinciana was planning more development but is willing to delay until the middle of January "to give you the necessary time to appraise the property and obtain town council approval for purchase of this site."

If the town doesn't buy the site, it may become self-storage units, said Blanco, who said the site has a drainage system and several retention areas that can be turned into lakes.

Blanco would like the site be a dawn-to-dusk "passive" park, with only benches and paths.

"We have more than enough people in the area to merit our own park," Blanco said, referring to the 2,700 people he helps represent.

The lack of parks on the east side has been a sore issue for Clark and Truex.

"Historically, there has always been under-representation on the east side of town," Truex said.

Besides receiving less money than the west side in the $10 million bond for parks passed in 1989, Truex said, the east side "was built up more, so to buy land there was always more expensive."

The town is getting two appraisals on the Southwest 71st Terrace property, said Ken Cohen, assistant town administrator, and they should be completed in about a week.

After the town receives the appraisals, Cohen said, "we will go to the council, provide them with the information, and they will authorize us to negotiate a price."

Victor Greto can be reached at vgreto@sun-sentinel.com or 954-385-7912.